John Bondfield to the Commissioners

[dateline] Bordeaux 7 July 1778

[salute] Honble Sirs

Yesterday arrived from Edenton the Sloop Sally Cap Norton which place he left the
6th June. He has brought few Letters, he mentions the entire Capture of the fourth
regiment who upon the expedition of Col. Maitland pushing into the Country their retreat
was cut off and obliged to lay down their Arms officers { 266 } and Soldiers not one escaping.1 He gives also accounts of the Arrival of several vessels perticularly the Rodrique
of Rochfort a valuable Ship in the Bay of Cheasapeak.

Having frequent oppertunities of Associating with the Agents or Consuls of the different
European States I obtain an insight of the advantages which there respective Countries
reap by their establishment which with submission permit me to represent to your honors
presum[ing] that a like plan might be of use to your Mission.

The Commerce of the United States becoming at this day a new field in her Trade with
Europe and for want of proper establishments no returns or estimates can be made of
the Nature or value of the branches opening which might be of consiquence to your
honors in the forming of Treaties or obtaining indulgence for certain branches of
Imports or Exports a certain knowledge of which with its growing State might be obtain'd
(as is acquird by the European States) by Instructing the Agents in the different
departments to keep an Account of the Shiping arriving from and sailing to America
which is easily performd should an order be obtaind for each vessel before her declaration
at the Bureau de l'Amiraute make his Report to your Agent an object I could easily
attain here but which would meet with more Sanction should and order from Mr. De Sartin
to the Commissiaire or donateur come down in Virtue of [ . . . ] application in consiquence of which declartion I [should] be impowerd to transmit you monthly as would the other Agents in their respective
departiments a general Return of the Imports and Exports. You would by that means
be inform'd of the extent of the Trade, the quantity of the <objects> Produce Imported and thereby at one View draw the Ballance that America would hold
in her Trade with this Kingdom as also others where your Agents are establishd.

I just scetch the above for your honors consideration which I judge may In time be
so methodized as to be of essential Use.2 I am with due Respect Your honors Most obedient Humb Servant